Bobby pin opener



Nov. 1, 1955 M. SCHILLING 2,722,221

BOBBY PIN OPENER Filed July 2, 1953 6 /a b /4 l0 5 /8 /a 4 26 Martin 50/) i/l/ng INVEN TOR.

BY W W 2,722,221 Patented Nov. 1, 1955 United States Patent Office BOBBY PIN OPENER Martin Schilling, Bowdle, S. Dak.

Application July 2, 1953, Serial No. 365,701

3 Claims. (Cl. 132-1) The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a simple, economical and practical device the primary purpose of which is to assist a user in readily and effectively spreading the legs of a bobby pin and thus opening and rendering the latter ready for expeditious use.

As the preceding general statement of the nature of the invention implies, bobby pin openers are not, of course, new. A survey of the prior art has shown that there are many and varied styles and forms of bobby pin holders and openers which have been evolved and produced by others for handy use. It will be clear therefore, that the instant invention has to do with a construction characterized by distinct structural adaptations and refinements which, collectively considered, provides a device in which manufacturers and users will find their respective requirements and needs satisfactorily met.

The essence of the invention has to do with a base having an opener thereon and the opener being distinctive in that it is characterized by an oblique-angled blade or bar having novel stop means and wherein the features cooperate to permit the legs of the pin to be handily spread apart, the then open pin being in a satisfactory position whereby it may be effectively grasped with the thumb and fingers with little likelihood of loosing the grip or inadvertently permitting the legs to snap back to their normal spring-closed position.

More specifically, the invention has to do with a base in the form of a tray for bobby pins, and an opener for said pins comprising an inverted U-shaped member embodying vertical arms joined with and rising perpendicularly from the tray and a horizontal bight portion interconnecting the upper ends of said arms, said bight portion being in the form of a substantially flat-faced bar obliquely inclined toward the top of the tray, the upper edge portion of the bight portion being substantially flat and in a plane in general spaced parallelism above the plane of said tray top.

Further novelty is predicated on the structure stated wherein the lower horizontal edge portion of said bight portion is provided with a laterally directed flange disposed at right angles to said bight portion and obliquely inclined in respect to said tray top.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bobby pin tray and opener constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a lengthwise section on a smaller scale taken approximately on the plane of the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a transverse or cross-section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the precise manner in which the bobby pin is applied and opened and made ready for use.

The base, which may be of plastic or other suitable material, is generally rectangular and is denoted by the numeral 6 and has longitudinal grooves 8 in the marginal sides to facilitate gripping and picking it up. The recess 10 provides the receiver or holding pocket. The bottom is covered with rubberized felt 12 to assist in holding the tray on a table and against slipping. The top surface at one end of the tray is flat as at 14. At this end is the inverted U-shaped opener 16, the same having vertical legs 1818 joined with the top and merging by way of rounded bends 2020 into the horizontal bar or blade 22 which is also called the bight portion. Attention is called to the fact that the bight portion or blade 22 has substantially flat main surfaces or faces and it is substantially rectangular in cross-section as shown best in Figure 4. It is pitched or angled so that it is at an approximate oblique angle to the top surface 14. The upper edge portion 24 is approximately flat and substantially in a plane which is parallel to the plane of the top 14. Extending between the legs and entirely across the lower edge portion there is a right angularly bent lip or flange 26 the surface 28 of which provides a stop shoulder. This flange is at right angles to the surfaces of the blade 22 and is thus at a general oblique angle in respect to the plane of the top surface 14.

In practice it is believed that the device should be made of one kind of material, that is, either all metal of an appropriate kind or all commercial plastics. The tray portion comes in handy as a satisfactory holder for a supply of bobby pins and the grooved longitudinal surfaces 8 facilitate picking up and otherwise handling and moving the device as a unit. The angle setting of the opening blade 22 and the pin stop 28 at its lower side is the main feature of the invention in that it provides that the pin can be held in the same position between thumb and fingers before it is opened and during the process of opening as it is when put in the hair. Most pins are curved and are put in the hair with the curvature up, it therefore will be convenient for the user to take pin in that position in hand and go thru the process of opening it without fear of loosing it if he would have to change his grip a few times while opening it. The pin stop or shoulder, together with the angle setting of the opening blade, is another feature of the invention in that is positions the pin for any convenient grip throughout its whole length.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further eX- planation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a tray for bobby pins, and an opener for said pins comprising an inverted U-shaped member embodying vertical arms joined with and rising perpendicularly from the tray and a horizontal bight portion interconnecting the upper ends of said arms, said bight portion being in the form of a substantially flat-faced bar obliquely inclined toward the top of the tray, the lower horizontal edge portion of said bight portion being provided with a laterally directed flange disposed at right angles to said bight portion and obliquely inclined in respect to said tray top.

2. An opener for a bobby pin comprising a base and an opening device mounted on said base, said device embodying a horizontally disposed oblique angled blade over which the legs of the pin are forced to partially open the same, said blade being provided along a lower edge with a laterally projecting flange, said flange providing a stop shoulder for an end of one of the legs, and also constituting a fulcrum on which said one leg is fulcrumed as the bend of the pin is swung in a circle toward the base and whereby the legs are spread apart sufiiciently to permit them to be grasped and held and the pin thus positioned between the thumb and fingers for reliable handling and use.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a tray for bobby pins, and an opener for said pins comprising an inverted U-shaped member embodying vertical arms joined with and rising perpendicularly from the tray and a horizontal bight portion interconnecting the upper ends of said arms,

said bight portion being in the form of a substantially fiat-faced bar obliquely inclined toward the top of the tray, the upper edge portion of the bight portion being substantially fiat and in a plane in general spaced parallelism above the plane of said tray top, and the lower horizontal edge portion of said bight portion being provided with a laterally directed flange disposed at rightt angles to said bight portion and obliquely inclined in respect to said tray top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

